Minn. House Avoids Vote On Wolf Trapping Ban

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Wolf hunting opponents have put off an effort for now to get Minnesota lawmakers to stop wolf trapping.

Rep. Jason Isaacson on Thursday shelved his amendment to a natural resources bill that would have imposed a five-year moratorium on wolf trapping, retroactive to when the state’s wolves came off the endangered list last year. It would have opened a public comment before trapping could resume.

The amendment also included a four-year ban on taking wolves in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. It was deferred without a vote or indication when it would arise again.

A Senate committee approved a five-year wolf hunting-and-trapping moratorium a month ago, but that proposal has advanced no further.

Hunters and trappers killed 413 wolves in Minnesota’s first wolf season, which ended in January.